Week 42 - October 30, 2023

 Hey, everyone!  I'm doing pretty good here, I'll hit 10 months on Thursday, time is flying!  I'm about to finish up my three-month-stay here in Azua, or as I like to call it, "the land of fire."  I'm not sure where I'll go next, but I'm excited to move on.  This area was a hard time for me, honestly.  I'm really optimistic about the future, I'm excited to keep learning and growing.

 

I've been really getting into the book of Mormon a lot, really diving into and enjoying every chapter, trying to get as much as possible this read-through, and it's been super fruitful.  My testimony of this book, and thus the church in general, has been strengthened a lot.  I love the Book of Mormon, and I'm excited to dive into the New Testament as well, seeing as I haven't been able to read that all the way through yet. 

As for Brady, so glad to hear he's about to get into the field. The MTC for me was amazing, I'm not sure if he went to Mexico like I did, but I loved it there.  My district was amazing, a time I'll never forget.  That being said, I remember the last couple weeks I was just so ready to get into the field and start working.  The language will come, I'm going to sound super basic but it's just patience and time and it comes quick.  I myself am still learning, even after all this time, and that's what the mission's all about, learning something every day.  With constant prayer, you learn more, faster--that's something I noticed. 

Thank you so much!  Elder Barlow

Weeks 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 - October 25, 2023

Hey, everyone, don't worry, I'm still in the Dominican working hard.  Not much has happened since the last time I wrote, but at the same time a good amount has happened, which makes no sense but yeah. 

About a couple weeks ago, as a district (5 areas, 10 missionaries) we set a "District baptism date" for November 4, and invited all the missionaries to set whatever baptism dates they achieve to that date, so we can all have a bunch of people baptized at the same time.  They accepted it, and we're nearing that date very quickly.  In our area, we have five people set to be baptized.  Let's go over them. 

Yoderis and Yoelmis- Two little girls that are the sisters of a family that has two members in it, they're pretty cool and super excited for the baptism.

Angel- cool kid that has an aunt that's super Catholic, but he's down to be baptized and we're working on getting his dad ready, too.

Abba- super chill old guy that is extremely interested in the church, and very faithful.  Ever since we visited him, he hasn't missed coming to church once. 

Lori- a nice Haitian lady that "we" have been teaching.  Mainly Elder Bringhurst has, because I don't know Creole yet.  She recently accepted the invitation extended to her by a member of the branch that accompanied us to a lesson, and we're helping her get ready.  Here's what she texted us yesterday after church:

"I have a remark to make.  It is true that we are not perfect, but the love of God is in each of his children.  I am really happy that I will be part of this family.  I feel good and I believe I will NOT regret if I am baptized and accept to follow Jesus definitively."

So yeah, super cool.

The work in Azua has not at all been easy.  It's been extremely hot, stressful, and there was a lot of times I got really discouraged.  As I have been pushing myself past my limits, I have seen changes in myself and have noticed my weaknesses, and with God I'm working to turn them into strengths.  My all time favorite scripture from the book of Mormon teaches:

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I love the book of Mormon.  These past couple weeks I've been really diving into every chapter, making sure I get the most out of it, and I have been growing my testimony of the church and of Christ a ton.  He really is there for us.  He actually does love us.  He in reality wants us to be happy every day.  That's why he calls to us to come unto him. 

Thanks everyone for your prayers.  I'm praying for you, and I hope you all have a great week!

I must go -Elder Barlow

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